This might not be the most talented NBA Draft in history, but the players who will realize their dreams tonight certainly don’t lack for smarts.
These players know they are a small piece of a much bigger picture. The draft is an appetizer. The main course will be served next Thursday when the NBA’s free-agent signing period begins.
“There’s going be a lot of change,” said Ohio State shooting guard Evan Turner. “It’s like what’s happening in college with conference expansion. A lot of fans are going to be sad and a lot are going to be happy. But things are going to look at lot different.”
Indeed they will.
Does LeBron James stay in Cleveland or take his breath-taking skills and magnetic personality to the Knicks or Nets or Bulls? Does Dwyane Wade leave Miami for Chicago?
Where does Dirk Nowitzki land? Amar’e Stoudemire? Joe Johnson?
Turner, who’s expected to be taken by the 76ers after the Wizards use the first pick on Kentucky point guard John Wall, said he’d like to play alongside Stoudemire.
“You need a post player,” he said. “And they just drafted a pretty good wing.”
Not all of the prospects at the Westin Hotel in Times Square yesterday considered James the unanimous free-agent prize. Turner went with Stoudemire, but Butler’s Gordon Hayward wants to carry King James’ bags.
Kansas shooting guard Xavier Henry said he would go with Johnson, the Hawks’ lanky shooting guard.
“I love his game,” said Henry. “I think I play like him, a tall, athletic guard. And you never hear him talk on the court. He just plays. I haven’t heard him say five words.”
Of course, the key words for Nets fans which will be uttered by commissioner David Stern tonight in the Garden’s Theater will be, “With the third pick . . . ”
The Nets are said to be considering Georgia Tech power forward Derrick Favors or Syracuse small forward Wesley Johnson, who seems to have emerged as the hot prospect in the last 72 hours.
If Johnson, who was rumored to possibly being taken by Philadelphia, gets past the Nets at No. 3, he won’t get past Minnesota. The Timberwolves’ starting point guard is former Syracuse star Jonny Flynn, who played with Johnson during his transfer season from Iowa State.
The Knicks don’t have a first-round pick. The Nets, Grizzlies, Timberwolves and Thunder, which acquired the Miami Heat’s first-round pick last night, have multiple selections.
“As a fan,” said Hayward, “I know I’m curious about what will happen.”
Aren’t we all.